existentialism
John K.
I'm new here. I have a question about existentialism.
I read recently that existentialism has become "unfashionable." The writer
didn't give an explanation as to why it's fallen into disfavor. Can anyone
tell me the reason that existentialism (which seems intellectually
reasonable to me) is currently considered invalid?
Thanks,
J.S.
Bill Snyder
news:vn0uuu1...@corp.supernews.com...
forms (high fashion, low fashion, retroversion fashion, and many other
forms). "Fashionable with whom?" is a question which needs to be answered
before your question can be dealt with. Are you asking about literary
people, practioners of philosophy, University literature departments,
University philosophy departments, or what? Take University philosophy
departments, e.g.; there are a large number of such departments in the
United States for whom Existentialism has never been fashionable; in fact,
it was close to a dirty word in many philosophy departments in the 3rd
quarter of the last century. And there are other departments which seemed
to specialize in it and related types of philosophy.
I think one thing which MIGHT be meant when someone says something like that
is that with the emergence of "post-modernism" the emphasis on "commitment"
or "authenticity" which animates much mid 20th century existentialist
thought has become passe (indeed, a sort of embarassment). If all ideas and
points of view have equal standing, then how could you commit yourself to
much of anything. However, "post-modernism" is, it appears to me, to be a
fading fashion itself. After all, it is the perfect philosophy for
accomodating the new capitalist internationalism (multi-nationals and such;
their point of view has equal standing with that of developing nations). A
commitment to radical transformation like you find in Fanon (of the world)
or Sartre (of oneself and then the world) or even the commitment to creative
action like you find in Camus makes them all "outsiders (Etrangers)" in a
world like the one which appears to be emerging today. But it does appear
to me that many thinkers today are rapidly getting fed up with a point of
view (post-modernism) which can accomodate itself to ANY
socio-economic-political conditions. Maybe we are ready for a resurgence of
commitment and authenticity, or, at least, I would like to hope so. But
then I expect to die with my illusions.
Bill Snyder
D. Stephen Heersink
proponents, Jean Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger wrote about it so
cryptically as to make it a labyrinthine puzzle rather than a way of
looking at life. Paul Tillich was more coherent and gives a more
cogent argument about its angst and anxiety. In any event, the lack of
popularity also has to do with not being rational, but simply
solipsistic. After awhile, it becomes boring and too self absorbed.
Kind regards,
___________________
D. Stephen Heersink
San Francisco
dsh...@intergate.com
Craig Franck
> I read recently that existentialism has become "unfashionable." The writer
> didn't give an explanation as to why it's fallen into disfavor. Can anyone
> tell me the reason that existentialism (which seems intellectually
> reasonable to me) is currently considered invalid?
A number of things perceived to be French have fallen out of
favor recently. Much confusion has been generated due to the
fact that existentialism is now called "freedom philosophy" by
some of the more fanatical misogauls.
--
Craig Franck
craig....@verizon.net
Cortland, NY